V-Brake & Shimano 105 ST-7000 Shifter/Brake Level
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V-Brake & Shimano 105 ST-7000 Shifter/Brake Level
Will the Shimano 105 ST-7000 Shifter/Brake Level have enough pull to work with V-Brakes? I want to take the Surly Cross Check and turn it into a long distance road bike that can do gravel, too. The bike is designed for v-brakes and I want to put Shimano 105 ST-7000 Shifter/Brake Level on it, the only question is... will the brake levels work with the v-brakes?
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No, but you can use mini-v. Or canti.
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Although it's not recommended, some people do use v-brakes with levers like yours. Because the pull is shorter, you need to set the brake pads very close to the rim, which requires that you keep your rims true. Because you have more leverage and the motion is shorter, the brakes will feel very grabby. Modulating the braking power is much harder than with a proper combination. And you'll lose braking power quickly when the pads wear down if you don't keep an eye on them and move the pads closer to the rim as needed. Again, I don't recommend it, but it is doable if you learn to work with it.
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I use canti brakes with a fork crown-mounted cable stop up front and with Problem Solvers Wide cable carriers, which would be my recommendation; they make adjustment a breeze which is not the case with link wires. Tektro CR-720 brakes with Kool-Stop samon compound pads work great for me.
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V-brakes come in various lengths:
https://www.gravelbike.com/v-brake-arm-lengths/
Some of the shorter ones will work with levers designed for calipers.
https://www.gravelbike.com/v-brake-arm-lengths/
Some of the shorter ones will work with levers designed for calipers.